Starting device for aeroplanes



Mardi 24, 1931 o. RICHTER v 1,797,514

STARTING DEVICE FOR AERoPLANEs' Filed April '18,` 1928 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 oTTo RICHTER, or KIEL,

GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO DEUTSCHE WERKE KIEL AKTIEN GESELLSCHAFT, F KIEL, GERMAN'Y v STARTING DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES Application led April 18, 1928, Serial No. 271,028, and in Germany April 29, 1927.

Theobject of the present invention is to produce means whereby starting speed may be imparted to an aeroplane withina very short travelling distance, and the invention consists in the provision of a movable platform adapted to carry the aeroplane, and of means for imparting movement to platform and aeroplane in the travelling. direction. The arrangement is preferably such that o while the platform moves relative to its support, the aeroplane is moved by the same operating element and in the same direction relative to the platform.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent diagrammatic views of the device showing the elements inthe two end positions.

The device comprises a platform a along which the aeroplane is adapted -to travel either on its own wheels-orv by means of a carriage 71,. The platform is secured to a cylinder b which is arranged to slide on a piston c under the influence of air pressure or the like. The piston is secured to a rigid support, preferably in the form of a vertical shaft d whichis adapted to turn in its bearings so as to allow theaeroplane to be started in the direction of the wind.Y Mounted on the outer ends of piston and cylinder respectively are two pulleys f and g whereon a cable e is guided. One end of this cable is secured to the cylinder b and the other end to the carriage 7L.

Fig. 1 shows the starting position, the platform being in its extreme left end position relative to the shaft d and the carriage L in the same position relative to the platform.

The carriage z, is .provided with a carrier of suitable typeadapted to engage the aeroplane and carry it along for starting andto releaseit as soon as the carriage stops. As the cylinder moves, together with the platform and together with one end of the cable, to the position shown inlFig. 2, the two pulleys are separated so as to extend the double stretch of the cable, and the carriage L will therefore move together with the aeroplane along the v platform at three times the speed of the latter. In this manner it is easy to impart a high speed to the aeroplane within a very short travelling distance.

' ,The length of the cylinder and platform is chosen according to the available power and to the required starting speed. Naturally,

the speed of the carriage it4 relative to the platform can be increased by multiplying the number of pulleys and the number of loops formed by the cable. Sometimes the movement of the platform alone may besuiicient for starting the machine.

If no carriage is used, the cable is'connected direct to the aeroplane by a self-releasing element of any suitable known type.

The piston may be 'constructed as an air flask which is refilled with compressed air after its exhaustion.

A second cylinder and piston may be employed carried by the same shaftd and placed in opposite direction to the cylinder b, the cable being.,r led over a pulley mounted on the second cylinder so that the cable loop will be still more extended and the speed of the 'carriage L increased.

The supply of compressed air or the like and other operating elements are preferably carried. by the platform so as to move with the latter. 4

The device may be mounted on a ship, on

a houseftop, or in any other suitable position.A

Iv claim:

1. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a movable aero lane-runway, a supporting member for sai runway, and means for slidably connecting said runway with said supporting member.

2.v A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a movable aeroplane-runway,a supporting member for said runway, means for slidably connecting said runway with said supporting member, and means for moving said runway along said supporting member in the launching direction.

3. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a movable aeroplane-runway, a supporting member for said runway, means for connecting said runway withsaid supporting member and adapted to allow a motion of said runway relative to said supporting member, and means for moving said runway alon said supporting member in the launching ection.

4. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising an aeroplane-runway, means for moving said runway in the launching direction, and means for moving an aerop ane on said ,runway in the same direction. f

5. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a movable aeroplane-runway, a supporting member for said runway, means for moving said runway along said supporting member in the launching direction, and means for moving an aeroplane on said runway in the same direction.

6. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising an aeroplane-runway, and means for moving said runway in the launching direction, said means being adapted to simultaneously move an aeroplane on said runway in the same direction.

7.' A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a movable @oplane-runway, operating means, and mea s enabling said operating means to impart motion to said runway and to an aeroplane movable on said runway.

8. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising an aeroplane runway, operating means adapted to move said runway in the launching direction, and means enabling said operating means to impart motion in the same direction to an aeroplane movable on said runway. l

9. A launchin device for aeroplanes comprising an aerop ane-runway, means for moving sa1d runway in the launching direction, and means for moving an aeroplane on said runway in the same direction but with greater velocity than that of the runway.

10. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a runway, an aeroplane supporting member adapted to travel along said runway, means or moving said supporting member in the launching direction, and means `or moving said runway in the same direction.

11. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a runway, an aeroplane supporting member` adapted to travel along said runway, and means for movin said runway in the launching direction, said means being adapted to simultaneously move said supporting Amember in the same direction.

12. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a runway, an aeroplane supporting member adapted to travel along saidA runway,

means for moving said runway in the launching direction, and means for moving said supporting member in the same direction but with a greater velocity than that of said runway. l ,Y

13. A launching device for aeroplanes comthe movement of said runway to said supporting member and to give said supporting member a greater velocity than that of said runway.l Y

14. l A launching device for aeroplanes comprising an aeroplane-runway, a cylinder secured to said runway, and a rigidly supported piston sliding in said cylinder.

15. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a runway, adapted to carry an aeroplane, a cylinderY secured to said runway, a rigidly supported piston sliding in said cylinder, and means for imparting movement to the aeroplane relative to said runway while the latter moves with the cylinder relative gto the piston.

16. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising an aeroplane-runway, a cylinder secured to said runway, and a rotatably supported piston sliding in said cylinder.

17. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising an aeroplanerunway, a cylinder secured to said runway, and a piston sliding in said cylinder and supported by a vertical rotatable shaft.

18. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a rigidly supported piston, a cylinder arranged to slide on said piston, a runway secured to the cylinder and adapted to carry the aeroplane, pulleys mounted on the outerends of piston and cylinder, a cable guided on said pulleys and secured at one end to the cylinder, and means for utilizing the other end of the cable for imparting movement to the aeroplane relative to the runway while the latter moves with the cylinder relative to the piston.

19. A launching device for aeroplanes comprising a rigidly supported piston, a cylinder .arranged to slide on said piston, a runway secured'to the cylinder, a carriage adapted to move along said runway and to support the aeroplane, pulleys mounted on the outer ends of piston and cylinder, and a cable guide on said pulleys, one end of said cable being secured 'to the cylinder and ythe other end to said carriage.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the piston is supported by a. vertical rotatable shaft.

OTTO RICHTER.

prising a runway, an aeroplane supporting member adapted to travel along said runway,

' means for moving said runway in the launching direction, and means adapted to impart 

